Forest Service offers wood gathering permits

Wood permits are on sale at the Sanpete, Ferron and Price District Offices of the Manti-La Sal National Forest and will continue to be sold until Nov. 30. Individuals can buy a permit for as little as four cords for $20 up to 10 cords for $50. Wood harvesters may not drive further than 150 feet off a road to gather wood.

Travel in the 150-foot zone is restricted to parking and loading. The same rule applies to post/pole cutting and camping.

For the first time, Manti-La Sal National Forest offices will be accepting most major credit and debit cards for permits, passes and map sales.

The use of motorized equipment to skid or load fuel wood is prohibited unless authorized in writing by the District Ranger or Acting District Ranger. There is no restriction on how near the road wood may be cut. However, fuel wood cannot be cut within 100 feet streams, ponds or lakes.

Any species of dead standing or down tree of may be cut on the Ferron/Price and Sanpete districts. Trees with paint marks or signs may not be cut. Stumps should be less than 12 inches in height on the uphill side.

Those cutting wood should have an approved spark arrestor properly mounted on their power saw and carry a full-size shovel and minimum 8 oz. fire extinguisher at all times. Wood cutting is prohibited in fire closure areas and during periods of high fire danger periods, when power equipment is prohibited.

The Manti-La Sal National Forest manages watersheds for people living in eight southeastern Utah counties and two western Colorado counties; it cares for 1.4 million acres of wildlife habitat, fisheries in 1,600 miles of perennial streams and 8,100 acres of lakes and reservoirs; it maintains 2,940 miles of road, 430 miles of trails, provides 550 developed campsites and is the source of 85 percent of the coal mined in Utah.